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‘Little Eva’ gets a day in the spotlight
Grave marker unveiled in ‘The Loco-Motion’ singer’s honor
By GREG KATSKI
Staff Writer
BELHAVEN — Eva “Little Eva” Boyd took center stage one last time as a head stone was unveiled at her grave site in Black Bottom Cemetery on Saturday afternoon.
The headstone, which includes the phrase “Singing with the Angels” and features an engraved train in honor of her number one hit, “The Loco-Motion,” was introduced to the public shortly after 1 p.m.
The unveiling of the headstone was preceded by a few thoughtful comments from Belhaven Mayor Adam O’Neal and an uplifting prayer and speech by Boyd’s brother, pastor Jimmy Boyd.
Situated at a lectern in front of Boyd’s grave, and the graves of other family members, Jimmy Boyd said the unveiling should serve as a “salute” to his sister.
“What we are here for is remembrance,” said Jimmy Boyd.
Jimmy Boyd said that his sister’s rise from small town girl to big city music star has often been misinterpreted by the media and public.
“I am one of the persons who really knew her life,” he said. “I can give you the facts.”
It was her brother, Jimmy Boyd, who “Little Eva” Boyd stayed with when she moved from Belhaven to the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, N.Y.
“Little Eva” Boyd took a “sleep-in” job working as a maid and babysitter for songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin, where she caught her big break.
“Little Eva” Boyd told her brother Jimmy Boyd that she was walking around the house one day vacuuming the floor and singing when she caught King’s ear.
King and Goffin wrote the song “The Loco-Motion” for her, and soon she was on her way to stardom.
But Jimmy Boyd said his sister’s success would have never been possible without the support of their mother.
“There is always someone in the background to say something positive,” he said. “Without my mother ... standing there to support her, a lot of things wouldn’t have happened.”
With “Little Eva” Boyd’s daughters, sisters, brothers and family members looking on, Jimmy Boyd thanked the town for its effort in giving his sister a just grave site.
“God has a wonderful way of bringing things to pass. He had the desire for the cemetery to be clean,” Jimmy Boyd said. “We want to thank Mayor O’Neal and all those that worked with him. Everybody responsible for bringing this to pass.”
“I salute our dear sister,” he added.
Jimmy Boyd said it was God that ultimately saved his sister after years of hardships touring on the road. “Little Eva” Boyd eventually moved back to North Carolina from New York and settled down in the City of Kinston.
“The Lord spoke and said, ‘Come off the road; trust God,’” said Jimmy Boyd
“Little Eva” Boyd eventually became a bishop mother at Vision of Hope in Kinston, before succumbing to cervical cancer in 2003.
Her youngest daughter, Josetta Hines, still resides in Kinston. She has bright memories of her famous mother.
“I knew who she was, but she was still mom,” said Hines.
She called her mother’s grave marker “lovely” and “beautiful.”
Jimmy Boyd, who is a pastor at Deliverance Temple Church of God in Christ, said, “This is one of the greater things done for my sister. Something great can come of this.”
By GREG KATSKI
Staff Writer
BELHAVEN — Eva “Little Eva” Boyd took center stage one last time as a head stone was unveiled at her grave site in Black Bottom Cemetery on Saturday afternoon.
The headstone, which includes the phrase “Singing with the Angels” and features an engraved train in honor of her number one hit, “The Loco-Motion,” was introduced to the public shortly after 1 p.m.
The unveiling of the headstone was preceded by a few thoughtful comments from Belhaven Mayor Adam O’Neal and an uplifting prayer and speech by Boyd’s brother, pastor Jimmy Boyd.
Situated at a lectern in front of Boyd’s grave, and the graves of other family members, Jimmy Boyd said the unveiling should serve as a “salute” to his sister.
“What we are here for is remembrance,” said Jimmy Boyd.
Jimmy Boyd said that his sister’s rise from small town girl to big city music star has often been misinterpreted by the media and public.
“I am one of the persons who really knew her life,” he said. “I can give you the facts.”
It was her brother, Jimmy Boyd, who “Little Eva” Boyd stayed with when she moved from Belhaven to the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, N.Y.
“Little Eva” Boyd took a “sleep-in” job working as a maid and babysitter for songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin, where she caught her big break.
“Little Eva” Boyd told her brother Jimmy Boyd that she was walking around the house one day vacuuming the floor and singing when she caught King’s ear.
King and Goffin wrote the song “The Loco-Motion” for her, and soon she was on her way to stardom.
But Jimmy Boyd said his sister’s success would have never been possible without the support of their mother.
“There is always someone in the background to say something positive,” he said. “Without my mother ... standing there to support her, a lot of things wouldn’t have happened.”
With “Little Eva” Boyd’s daughters, sisters, brothers and family members looking on, Jimmy Boyd thanked the town for its effort in giving his sister a just grave site.
“God has a wonderful way of bringing things to pass. He had the desire for the cemetery to be clean,” Jimmy Boyd said. “We want to thank Mayor O’Neal and all those that worked with him. Everybody responsible for bringing this to pass.”
“I salute our dear sister,” he added.
Jimmy Boyd said it was God that ultimately saved his sister after years of hardships touring on the road. “Little Eva” Boyd eventually moved back to North Carolina from New York and settled down in the City of Kinston.
“The Lord spoke and said, ‘Come off the road; trust God,’” said Jimmy Boyd
“Little Eva” Boyd eventually became a bishop mother at Vision of Hope in Kinston, before succumbing to cervical cancer in 2003.
Her youngest daughter, Josetta Hines, still resides in Kinston. She has bright memories of her famous mother.
“I knew who she was, but she was still mom,” said Hines.
She called her mother’s grave marker “lovely” and “beautiful.”
Jimmy Boyd, who is a pastor at Deliverance Temple Church of God in Christ, said, “This is one of the greater things done for my sister. Something great can come of this.”
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tunne rat wrote on Jul 6, 2009 8:55 PM:
that is the biggest propganda word that every came out of butterfields and rino jones mouth in the past hundred years .
just 2 water boys for the obama socalist party , and a hand full of red necks that dont have a clue about whast they are talking about . "